Open Cross Claw

[Viridae Kabre]

Viridae

Viridae tilted his head, starring over the skeletons of bare trees, then glanced at Sayani before following her gaze to the mountains, standing as centinals to the valley below. He could not trade this world for one below the ground, slaving to tan a hide he'd eventually sell. No. Even though he sold the spoils of his hunts, he kept something of the good ones, be it a skull, or a skin, or a tooth. Some tolken to remind him of the thrill of the unknow. The patience and discipline expeneded stalking the creature. The heart stopping moment of impact between flesh and arrowhead. Hunting was his path. Not tanning.

"Tanning is not very exciting. And I have no intrest in spending days at a time beneath the ground, doing something I have no patience for. " That was a good enough answer. "Not that I'm impatient, I just need a change of pace every once in awhile."

"And I'm sure everything will work out in the end. Its just..." He paused for a moment, almost choking on his words. Normally, he did not open up like this, but he felt he could relate to Sayani in a way he had only ever experienced with Seivis. But different. It almost scared him. "I'm getting to the age where I should be getting married. And having children. But I'm content here. I just don't want to look back someday and regret what could have been."

He listened to Sayani, and raised his brows inquisitively. "You started fairly young as well. And healing is not an easy proffesion by far. Especially dealing with our kind. Or rather, those who think they are above everyone. Admitting to an injury and seeking aid for it requires some degree of humility. Some in Kalinor don't take well to it. Why did you choose healing over hunting?"

The path cantered slightly upwards and viridae pulled his cloak a lightly tighter about his body. Wouldn't be long now before they crested the first hillock, bringing them a fair bit closer to the mountains. They still had a ways to go.

"Have you spent much time in these mountains? They can be tricky. Especially where we're going."

[Sayani]

It was strange the relief she felt when Viridae told her why he didn't like tanning. Well, Sayani had never wanted to try the activity, so she could relate to the feeling. But she knew that her relief was because she hadn't been wrong about the hunter. He was an interesting character, and Sayani found she was enjoying the talk. It was strange, but she didn't mind.

When the other talked about marriage, the Symenestra snorted. She wasn't making fun of him, although it might have seemed that way. No, she snorted at the idea. Marriage was something she hadn't even considered for her.

"If you do what you want, then you will regret nothing." she said simply, before scowling at no one in particular. "Marriage. I guess I'm also at the age of thinking about it. But, like you, I have no interest in this. There is so much to be seen out there, and the last thing I want is to be trapped inside Kalinor, with some kid to take care of." she did take care of Nissa, but that was a very different matter. She could take the girl away from Kalinor, and no one would ever try to stop her. Even if she had to take care of Nissa, she wasn't trapped. Sayani knew it wouldn't be the same with kids of her own.

As the Symenestra listened to the other hunter comment about her profession, she allowed herself to smile, before quickly hiding it behind an expressionless face. Sayani normally didn't show what she was feeling, and she hated to talk about herself. And yet... she didn't mind doing that now. She could relate to the other in some ways, as they were similar. It felt like they shared a secret. But she couldn't be too careless. They had only met, and Sayani wasn't a fool to believe she could trust the other. And yet, she answered his question.

"I didn't exactly chose healing. Being in the Purging, I learn something everyday. I can see the effects of the Symenestra poison on surrogates' bodies, I can see the injury and I can treat it. I can learn of weakness and strengths, both of our race and the races of the surrogates. Being a doctor is a constant learning process, and all this information is something I'm curious about." most people would frown at her if she said that. Normally, doctors chose that profession because they wanted to help. Sayani only wanted to learn. "I learn from healing others, and I hunt to be freed. It works well for me."

They were getting closer, but there was still a long path ahead of them before they could reach the mountains. The terrain raised slightly, and Sayani looked back, briefly. This was the farther she had gone from Kalinor, and yet, she didn't feel anything like anxiety. Instead, she was happier. Maybe the city wasn't for her.

"I never came here. My father promised to take me and my brother when we were better hunters, but he died before that." Sayani looked at the mountains once more. "Do you usually hunt there?"

[Viridae Kabre]

Viridae nodded. Raising a child would be terribly time consuming. And even though he'd always imagined it'd be much like his childhood, his father hunting while the mother raised the child, he couldn't imagine dooming another to that sort of existing. At least, no one intelligent enough for him to love. Yet still, parenting could have its advantages. His father set off to see the world with Viridae's older brother. He couldn't even fathom the bond they shared with each other.

Sayani was curious. Not just in the sense that she was extreamly intresting and peculiar, and that the two of them shared some sort of tangible connection that he could genuinely feel, but she was quite litterally curious. It reminded him of himself, but in a different sense. He just wanted to see the world, and do things that had never been done, but her curiousity seemed more tangible. Somehow, more real, and he almost envied her for it. She found something that made her happy, and she seized it. And here he was, spending half of his time forming questions without seeking answers. It made him feel guilty to the point of his cheeks reddening. Viridae dismissed the thoughts with a sigh.

"It pleases me to hear you've found what makes you happy. Sometimes the future seems so unittainable, that people lose sight of their dreams. For some reason, I take pleasure in the fact that you haven't."

Usually the Symenestra did not reveal his feelings so openly, but he was such an expressionless person that honesty seemed to be called for in the current situation. He owed her that much.

He followed her gaze to the tall peaks, before replying.

"My father took me on my first hunt here. It was early winter. Lots of tracking. Thought I'd turn into a popsickle. After he left, it took a couple seasons, but I finally mustered the courage to venture up here alone, and I haven't spotted better hunting grounds for arge game since. Eventually, I'd like to go a little further, see what sort of game lies beyond the horizon, but I know I'm not ready. Not to go it alone anyway. Maybe someday I'll bump into my father. There are many intresting places in the world, and it would make me happy to gain a skull from each of them. But pulling out of habbit is hard. I've made a decent nitch for myself here in Kalinor. I suppose I'm partially afraid I won't return. Or maybe I'll find out my father and brother are dead. Each are equally terrifying in their own repects."

[Sayani]

oocSorry about the long wait... Had some problems in real life that kept me busy.

Sayani thought a little about the world Viridae had chosen. Dreams. She didn't like this word much. It seemed too intangible. Instead, Sayani liked to refer to things she wanted to do as goals, goals she could achieve and complete. The Symenestra thought for a while, without knowing if she should say it or just keep her words to herself. Viridae was not her friend, but he was a pleasant company, and then, Sayani could give advice to people, she just couldn't make them follow it. In the end, the choice was his own.

"Dreams. I don't like this words." she said, her voice soft, to show that she had understood and appreciated the hunter's commentary. She didn't offer anything else, at least until she listened to what he had to say.

Fear. At least the man knew what was keeping him in Kalinor, and didn't try to deny it. However, wasn't fear a kind of denial? Sayani looked at the mountain, brushing her feet against the ground, feeling it. Outside. It was so dangerous, yet so full of wonders. When she was ready, she would leave, fear or not. Turning her head slightly to Viridae, Sayani tried to evaluate the hunter.

"It is only you that's keeping yourself from achieving your goals... or dreams. True, you need to be prepared, but if you are afraid of the truth, afraid of the unknown, then you will never be ready. Living a life in fear is a waste." she said, gently raising her shoulders. It didn't concern her, not at all, but she enjoyed the others companion, and so, it didn't seem wrong to say that to him. "Of course, in the end, you are the only one who can change yourself. But, if you want an advice: don't be afraid of the truth, ever. Truth is perhaps one of the most powerful tools. You know the truth, you can use and twist it to your liking. When you know the truth and how to use it, you're powerful."

[Viridae Kabre]

He nodded, and smiled to Sayani, before raising a claw to his mouth in thought.

"Greater truth could not have been spoken," He said with a slight shake of his head. but something else was tugging at him. At his core. He had a feeling, and not a good one. The city was in unrest. His people were dying. They plead for answers, and beg for mercy from their god, one who they turned to in desperation, and it seemed as though he was not listening. And still many ventured fourth, and some never returned. Their kind was hated by neighboring communities and trade was slowing to a grinding halt, as they continued to tarnish the reputation of their people further and further.

"I cannot leave now. Something has to be done. Our people....We are dying. I just wish I could help."

For the first time the Symenestra noticed the path was cantered downward, and before them lay a stretch of baren white, a thin trail carved into by the feet of migrating game. They had creasted the first hillock and were nearly half way into the mountains. The sun above had begun to meld with the distant horizon, casting shades of pale pink. He figured if they walked on they could make it to the next tree line and set up camp. Water would be scarce, but they had enough to last through the night.

"We're going to need to camp soon. If we rise just before Syna tomorrow, we could make it to the base of the mountain. The lion is likely near its peak, but with the two of us it shouldn't be hard to find its home. What do you think?"